larly, as to his ufage in the production, or abbreviation of known words, and his introduction of factitious ones, than as to his adoption of claffic, or foreign terms, or idioms: though, of these latter, inftances enough might readily be found. Crumenal, fingults, concrew, deign'd, &c. &c. fhew at once their origin.

His Faery-mythology, and antient British genealogy, both neceffary to be understood. by thofe, who intereft themselves in the ftories of early British times, have been followed by all his fucceffors. And Milton, no incurious fearcher into the moft fabulous antiquity of British story, has paid all deference to his deductions.

Three original pieces of Spenfer yet remain, uncollected in the edition of his works.

An Iambicke Elegie, called "Love's Em"baffie," in " Davifon's Poems, or PoC 4 etical

"etical Rhapfodie, by divers authors." 12, Lond. 1602.

A commendatory Sonnet, prefixed to "Lew"kenor's Tranflation of Cardinal Gaf

par Contarini's Commonwealth and "Government of Venice," 4*, Lond.

1599.

to

both which are reprinted in the Obfervations on Spenser, 1762.

And the following Commendatory Sonnet, here first reprinted, from " the Tran"flation, by Z. I., of De Lavardin's "Hiftory of Scanderbeg." Fol. Lond. 1596.

Upon the Hiftorie of George Caftriot, alias Scanderbeg, King of the Epirots, tranflated into English.

Wherefore doth vaine Antiquítie so vaunt

Her ancient monuments of mighty peeres,
And old heroes, which their world did daunt
With their great deedes, and fild their chil-
dren's cares?

Who,

Who, rapt with wonder of their famous praise,
Admire their statues, their coloffoes great,
Their rich triumphal arcks, which they did raise,
Their huge pyramids, which do heaven threat.
Lo one, whom later age hath brought to light,
Matcha le to the greatest of those great;
Great both by name,and great in power and might,
And meriting a meere triumphant feat.

The scourge of Turkes, and plague of Infidels,
Thy acts, O Scanderbeg, this volume tels.

o v OVER BURY.

IK Thomas Overbury was the fon of Ni

SIR

cholas Overbury, Efquire, of Burton, in Gloftershire. In 1595, his 14th year, he became Gent. Com. of Queen's, Oxford; and, in 1598, A. B. For fome time he refided in the Middle Temple; and then went abroad. On his return, he became intimate with K. James's favorite, Sir Robert Carre, (afterwads Earl of Somerset); and, when Carre informed him of his defign to marry the Countefs of Effex, diffuaded him from it, with fome imputations on the Countefs' chastity. When Carre communicated to her Overbury's intelligence, fhe, with a refinement of malice, procured Overbury to be appointed to a foreign embaffy; at the fame time prompting Carre to diffuade him from accepting it, to the intent that he might offend the King.

Overbury,

Overbury, rejecting the appointment, was, 21st April 1613, committed to the Tower; and there, by a confederacy of Carre and the Countefs, Sir Gervas Yelvis (Lieutenant of the Tower), Anne Turner, Franklin, Wefton, and an apothecary, poifoned, the October following.

In Overbury's poem, The Wife, the fentiments, maxims, and obfervations, with which it abounds, are fuch as a confiderable expe-ience, and a correct judgment on mankind alone could furnish. The topics of jealoufy, and of the credit, and behaviour of women are treated with great truth, delicacy, and perfpicuity. The nice diftinctions of moral character, and the pattern of female excellence here drawn, contrafted, as they were, with the heinous and flagrant enormities of the Countess of Essex, rendered this poem extremely popular, when its ingenious. author was no more. From the first year of its publication, in 1614, to the year 1622, it went through eleven impreffions; and is, in

that